Containers for material in bulk

ABSTRACT

A container for materials in bulk, comprising a vessel formed at its lower end with a hopper tapering to a discharge outlet, and a supporting framework detachably secured thereto and providing a seat which vertically and laterally locates the vessel, the framework having a lower portion engageable with the ground.

United States Patent lnventor Arthur H. Cooke Shlpston-omStour, England Appl. No. 785,303 Filed Dec. 19,1968 Patented Aug. 31, 1971 Assignee Pressoturn Limited Leamington Spa, Warwiclshire, England Priority Jan. 3, 1968 Great Britain CONTAINERS FOR MATERIAL IN BULK 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 222/185, 222/143, 222/460 Int. Cl 867d 5/06 Field of Search 222/143, '173, 179.5, 180, 182, 185, 181, 186, 460, 461, 462; 220/97 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,083,879 4/1963 Coleman 222/143 3,318,486 5/1967 Felix 222/143 2,161,988 6/1939 Warret al.... 222/180 2,228,435 1/1941 Binon 222/173 X 2,293,160 8/1942 Miller et a1. 222/185 X 2,681,746 6/1954 Hawkins et al. 222/183 X 2,862,645 12/1958 Page et a1. 222/143 3,182,750 5/1965 Gleason et al... 222/183 X 3,347,412 10/1967 McKinney 220/97 3,407,971 10/1968 Oehler 222/143 X I F ORElGN PATENTS 647,482 10/1962 ltaly 222/143 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher ABSTRACT: A container for materials in bulk, comprising a vessel formed at its lower end with a hopper tapering to a discharge outlet, and a supporting framework detachably secured thereto and providing a seat which vertically and laterally locates the vessel, the framework having a lower portion engageable with the ground.

PATEHTED M1831 1971 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG.2.

CONTAINERS FOR MATERIAL-IN BULK This invention is concerned with containers for transport ing, storing or handling materials (eg powdered, granular or pulverulent materials or liquids) in bulk.

Containers for bulk materials are known having a hopper bottom with an outlet to enable complete discharge of the contents. Such containers usually comprise a vessel and a supporting frame. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved from of such a container in which a damaged vessel or frame can readily be replaced.

According to the invention, there is'provided a container for materials in bulk, said container comprising a vessel with a body portion and at the lower end of the body portion a ground (or the top of another container) for insertion of a fork 1ft to engage beneath the frame part 11 and lift the container.

Brackets 15 are welded to the vertical members 12 and project diagonally inwards therefrom, thebrackets 15 having bolt hopper tapering to a discharge outlet, and a supporting framework detachably secured to the vessel, said framework including an upper portion engaging around the hopper adjacent the junction thereof with the body portion and providing a seat which vertically and laterally locates the vessel and a lower portion engageable with the ground to support the container thereon. 1

Preferably, said upper portion of the framework has inclined flanges engaging the hopper and upright flanges surrounding the lower end of the body portion of the vessel.

The hopper preferably has outwardly extending flanges which are detachably secured to anchorages within the framework. The outwardly extending flanges are preferably integral with the hopper and preferably lie in vertical planes.

The body portion of the vessel is preferably of rectangular form and the hopper is preferably of four-sided pyramidal form. Preferably, the framework has four feet corresponding to the corners of the body portion and vertical support members extend between the feet and said upper portion of the framework.

The vessel may have a hopper at each end, with means for detachably securing the vessel to the framework on reversal of the vessel.

The following is a description, by way of example, of bulk material containers in accordance with the invention,

' reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in

which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a modified container; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 4.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3, the container comprises a vessel having a general rectangular body portion 1 with a top 2 having a central filling opening 3 which can be closed by a suitable lid (not shown.) The top 2 is formed at its corners with recesses 4. At the lower end of the body portion 2, the vessel is provided with a hopper 5 of four-sided pyramidal form. The hopper has at its bottom a discharge outlet 6 fitted with a suitable valve (not shown). The four comers of the hopper are provided with outwardly extending integral flanges 7 which lie in vertical planes and which have bolt holes 8.

The vessel is detachably secured (by bolts as hereinafter described) to a rectangular supporting framework 9 which surrounds the hopper and comprises an upper generally rectangular frame part 10, a lower corresponding generally rectangular frame part 11 and interconnecting vertical members 12 secured between the frame parts and I l. The upper frame part I0 has inclined flanges 10a engaging around the hopper and upright flanges 10 b surrounding the lower part of the body portion 1 of the vessel and thus provides a seat which vertically and laterally locates the vessel. The lower frame part holes 16 corresponding to the bolt holes 8, the arrangement being such that bolts 17 can be passed through the holes 8 and 16 and fastened in position by nuts 18 having washers 19 associated therewith. Thereby, the vessel is detachably secured to the framework. v

The modified container shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is substantially identical inconstruction to that of FIGS. 1 to 3 except that the top 2 is replaced by a hopper 5 similar to the hopper 5 and having flanges 7 with bolt holes 8 and, at its top, an inlet 6 corresponding to the outlet 6. Thus, the vessel can if desired be reversed in the framework 9. Also, if desired the container can be tilted to discharge through the inlet 6'.

The vessel may, for example, be made from aluminum alloy or mild steel sheet, while the framework may be made of mild steel angle.

In the event of damage to the vessel or theframework, the damaged member can readily be removed and replaced and maintenance of the containers in good working condition is thereby facilitated and made more economical.

I claim: I

1. A container for materials in bulk, said container comprising a vessel having a body portion of rectangular boxlike form with the lower end thereof tapering to form a four-sided pyramidal hopper serving as a discharge outlet, and a supporting framework detachably secured to the vessel, said framework comprising an upper portion having inclined flanges engaging the hopper and upright flanges surrounding the lower end of the body portion of the vessel, and a lower portion comprising horizontal framework members with at least four ground-engaging feet depending therefrom, said feet providing clearance between the ground and the horizontal members of the framework for insertion of a forklift to engage the horizontal members and lift the container.

2'. A container according to claim 1, further comprising vertical support members extending between the horizontal members and said upper portion of the framework, integral outwardly extending vertical flanges on the hopper, and anchorages fixed on the vertical support members and detachably secured to said flanges, said anchorages and flanges being disposed wholly within the confines of the framework so as to be thereby protected from damage.

3 A container according to claim 2, further comprising recesses in the top of the vessel at its corners corresponding to the four feet, whereby the container is stackable.

4. A container for materials in bulk, said container comprising a vessel with a body portion and at the lower end of the body portion a hopper tapering to a discharge outlet, and a supporting framework detachably secured to the vessel, said framework including an upper portion detachably engaging around the hopper adjacent the junction thereof with the body portion and providing a seat which vertically and laterally locates the vessel and a lower portion engageable with the ground to support the container thereon, the upper end of the vessel having means for detachably securing the vessel to the framework on reversal of the vessel relative to the framework.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the vessel has a hopper at each end.

22 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,602,400 Dated A g 31. 1971 Inventor(s) Arthur H. COOKE It is certified that error appears in the above-ident zified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

-"-The assign ees name should correctly read ALCOA CONTAINERS SYSTEMS (GB) LIMITED, of West Hill, Blackdown, Leamington s a, Warwickshire, England.

Signed and ealed this 28th day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLE'IGHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A container for materials in bulk, said container comprising a vessel having a body portion of rectangular boxlike form with the lower end thereof tapering to form a four-sided pyramidal hopper serving as a discharge outlet, and a supporting framework detachably secured to the vessel, said framework comprising an upper portion having inclined flanges engaging the hopper and upright flanges surrounding the lower end of the body portion of the vessel, and a lower portion comprising horizontal framework members with at least four ground-engaging feet depending therefrom, said feet providing clearance between the ground and the horizontal members of the framework for insertion of a forklift to engage the horizontal members and lift the container.
 2. A container according to claim 1, further comprising vertical support members extending between the horizontal members and said upper portion of the framework, integral outwardly extending vertical flanges on the hopper, and anchorages fixed on the vertical support members and detachably secured to said flanges, said anchorages and flanges being disposed wholly within the confines of the framework so as to be thereby protected from damage.
 3. A container according to claim 2, further comprising recesses in the top of the vessel at its corners corresponding to the four feet, whereby the container is stackable.
 4. A container for materials in bulk, said container comprising a vessel with a body portion and at the lower end of the body portion a hopper tapering to a discharge Outlet, and a supporting framework detachably secured to the vessel, said framework including an upper portion detachably engaging around the hopper adjacent the junction thereof with the body portion and providing a seat which vertically and laterally locates the vessel and a lower portion engageable with the ground to support the container thereon, the upper end of the vessel having means for detachably securing the vessel to the framework on reversal of the vessel relative to the framework.
 5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the vessel has a hopper at each end. 